* More gotchas for international travelers
Continuing our discussion about the troubles with international wireless data connectivity, today we’d like to explain a few more “gotcha” tricks about mobile e-mail and Web access.
Some users might be tempted to blame their host country for having not GPRS connectivity. However, nearly all (if not all) countries in Europe and Asia do provide GPRS connections. (Larry has even received GPRS connectivity in mountainous regions in Eastern Europe.) The problem may more likely be that the area a traveler is in may not have a GPRS signal. Much like common mobile voice channels, GPRS is subject to areas that are not covered and to “dark” spots with poor reception.
Another possible problem with GPRS reception lies in the fact that some service providers charge by the minute or by the kilo-packet and it is possible to run up a bill into the thousands of dollars. Other service providers offer a usage-based plan with a cap, so the traveler can be assured there is a maximum amount that can be billed at the end of the month. Travelers should take care to choose their plan according to their projected usage needs.
Perhaps the most likely reason that a traveler doesn’t get GPRS coverage is that their plan does not include international data roaming. Note that international voice roaming and international data roaming are two different items, and they are not mutually inclusive. So, we recommend that international travelers check with their service provider about their plan’s terms for both voice and data roaming.
All in all, international enterprise mobility is available but international travelers need to understand that data mobility isn’t automatic and that it can get to be expensive unless users select the plan best suited to their needs.
